By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : A former Ranji Trophy player of Jammu and Kashmir and now London-based Senior Immigration Judge at the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal- Khurshid Hassan Drabu was awarded life time achievement award by the Association of Muslim Lawyers at its 12th Annual Conference held at the Law Society on November 17.
Drabu was the awarded for his illustrious services he has rendered to the British Muslim community over the last three decades.
The award was conferred by the President of the Law Society Andrew Holroyd OBE at a gathering of lawyers at London.
The award named after the founder of Pakistan, Qaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, was presented to Drabu by Andrew Holroyd OBE, the President of Law Society.
Judge Drabu defeated Dame Helena Kennedy QC and Ajmalul Hussain QC in open voting system.
The other award winners for 2007 were Imran Khan (Human Rights Lawyer), Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty (Female Lawyer) and Saira Shabir Shah (Young Lawyer).
The previous recipients of the award are Michael Mansfield QC, famous criminal lawyer of the United Kingdom.
In his brief speech Judge Drabu said, “To be recognized and honoured by your peers is the highest accolade one can aspire to and I am deeply touched to have been chosen to receive this award.”
Khurshid Drabu is well known for his role in furthering and advocating the interests of the British Muslims.
He is one of the founders of the British Muslim Council, the leading British Muslim organisation.
Since 2002 he has been an honorary advisor to the British Ministry of Defence on Islamic Affairs.
His work and persuasion helped the MOD to appoint the first Muslim to its Chaplaincy Service in 2005.
A widely known Muslim figure in the United Kingdom, Khurshid Drabu has been described as “the leading authority on UK immigration law” and “one of the most respected Muslims in the UK”.
In 2006 he was included in the Muslim Power 100, a list of most influential Muslims in the UK. In 2007 he was chosen for Alija Izbetgovic award for Good Citizenship.
Born and raised in Srinagar, Khurshid Drabu came to the UK in 1971 to study law.
He secured first position in LLB and a Gold Medal at the Aligarh Muslim University, India in 1969.
He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1977.
He has previously been associated with the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination as well as helping victims of the violence in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also played first class cricket from 1962 to 1969 representing Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy.
In 1969 at the age of 23 he became the youngest ever captain of the team.